Big Wheel Deals

Friday, July 31, 2015

Unless you've been hiding under a rock you've heard plenty the last few months about Salsa's full suspension fatbike, dubbed the Bucksaw.

As anyone that owns one knows, they did a good job of spec'ing this bike with quality components at the price point they targeted.

But with any build comes a compromise, and on this one the wheelset left a lot of room for improvement, both in weight and in the ability to easily and reliably run them tubeless.

Because most are riding this bike on dirt, with little need for massive flotation, the rims don't need to be 'winter wide', and the tires don't need huge (read: slow) tread blocks to dig in.

Thus, the most common wheelset I've been building for Bucksaw owners looking to improve the performance of their steed is this one.

The end goal was to shed as much rotational weight as possible. The secondary goal was to keep them as stiff and durable as the stock set. The final goal was to put some fast, supple, tubeless ready tires on there--both to shed the weight of a tube and to ensure low rolling resistance when run tubeless.

Hubs are Salsa Fat Conversion. 15 x 150 up front for Bluto, 12 x 177 out back for Bucksaw. They can be set up for XD or 10 speed--please specify.

The end result is a wheelset that sheds a good chunk of mass (almost half a pound per wheel in rims, spokes, and nips, compared to stock) and that allows you to easily, safely, and reliably run them tubeless, thus saving yet more weight by removing the tube from the equation.

If you want just the wheelset (already have tires? Fine by me...) the total cost is $800 including shipping.

Want a set of light, supple, tubeless ready tires too? Add $190 to the total and choose from 45N Van Helga or Dunderbeist, Bontrager Hodag, Maxxis Mammoth, or Vee Bulldozer.

I crowdfunded a fat e-bike project a few months back. I never had any intention of running it with fat wheels or tires, but the price was too good to pass up for a complete bike.

As soon as it arrived I stripped the front wheel off and replaced it with a 29" tubeless version.

Then I loosened/clipped the spokes on the rear wheel, and re-laced the hub motor into a 29" tubeless version.

Thus I have this front wheel/tube/tire and rear rim/tube/tire for sale.

They are new, never been ridden--not even once.

Rims are 85mm wide, rimstrips appear to be a quality reinforced ripstop of some sort. Tubes and Chaoyang 4.9" tires also feel nice to the hand--supple, not cheap. Tread looks a lot like a 45N Husker Du or Panaracer Fat B Nimble.

Front hub is unbranded, with 135mm spacing.

Total for front wheel/tire and rear rim/tire is $200 including shipping. Great inexpensive way to get started on your own fatbike project.

As you can see, there are a few superficial scrapes and scratches on the rim sidewalls. The kind of thing that you get on every ride when you live and ride in rocks. None affect durability or function--all are purely cosmetic.

$1100 for the set includes shipping.

Tires pictured are NOT included.

Happy to include a different set of tires as part of a package deal. I have Bontrager Chupacabras, Surly Dirt Wizards, Vee Trax Fatty's, and Surly Knards. Mix and match as suits your needs, and I'll quote you a price including installation on the wheels before shipping.

Shipping will be via Fed Ex Ground, and you'll get emailed tracking info.

As built it is sized for someone in the 5'4" to 5'5" range. Can easily fit up to 5'8" with a taller/longer stem and post. Happy to swap in a longer/taller stem if you already know this 40mm version is gonna be too stubby.

Gearing is 29 x 21 = 1.38 ratio = 40 gear inches. On the low side if your trails are fast and smooth, just about right if you live where there are mountains.

It has the usual scuffs and scrapes and cable rub spots that you'd expect on a used bike. The only spot that is worthy of mention is pictured below--a teeny little dent in the non-drive-side seatstay.

I asked Devin Lenz if he thought it merited concern or action, and he said 'Nah--don't worry about that little thing'.

He also made clear that he could replace that seatstay if I wanted, but he didn't see the point for something so trivial.

Cost is $2000. That assumes local pickup in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Want it shipped? Sure thing--I'll box and pad it and have Fed Ex Ground drop it on your doorstep. Add $100 for this option.

Pedals not included.

Previous owner rarely/never used the remote fork lockout, so I removed it from the bike. It is included with the sale, so you're covered if you know you'll use it.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

I've coveted this lens for years but could never quite justify the expense. To this point I'd been using, and loving, the 28-300L despite it's size and heft.

Had I never owned the 28-300L I think I'd be keeping this lens. But the added width of the 28-300L was immediately missed, and I realized pretty quickly that I'd rather carry one big lens than two of any size.

Call me crazy that way, but I just don't want to have to think about which lens is on the camera, much less consider swapping them mid-day.

As a result I used this 70-200L for about three weeks, wholeheartedly at first then halfheartedly as the realization set in that I wanted wider, and longer, all the time.

Thus, I haven't used it in 12+ weeks, it's just been parked inside it's soft case, inside the box, sitting here on my desk.

And this is way too nice of a lens to just have sitting around.

Warranty card included, not yet filled out.

As you can see from the above pics the lens is pristine--9.95 out of 10. There are a few micro dust motes on the rubber zoom ring that I didn't bother trying to remove. That's it--otherwise it looks, and is, brand spankin' new.

As is my habit with any expensive electronics purchase, I bought the SquareTrade 3 Year ADH ('Accidental Damage from Handling') Warranty with this lens. Some people call this a 'drops and spills' policy, because even if you're a total bonehead and break this thing in half somehow, if you send SquareTrade the pieces, they'll either fix it or replace it at zero cost to you.

My total cost for the lens and warranty was $2490.98.

Selling it for $1700 firm. The warranty will be transferred to you as soon as payment has been completed, and the lens will be fully covered until 12/30/17.

Will consider reasonable trades. Off the top of my head I'd consider a 5d3 body in 8+ condition, or an 11-24 f4L, or maybe a 14 f2.8L, or...?

Fed Ex Ground shipping is included to anywhere in the lower 48. The parcel will be insured for full-value, and you'll get emailed tracking info as soon as it's picked up.